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Eric Church

New Music Friday For Oct. 5: Cat Power And 7 Other Albums You Should Hear Now

Cat Power's Wanderer is on our shortlist of essential releases for Oct. 5. Julien Bourgeois hide caption

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Julien Bourgeois

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday For Oct. 5: Cat Power And 7 Other Albums You Should Hear Now

Explore the versatile country of Eric Church, the spiky pop-rock of Swearin', the rugged metal of High on Fire and other albums due out this week.

New Music Friday For Oct. 5: Cat Power And 7 Other Albums You Should Hear Now

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Think Politics Is Gone From Country Music? Listen Closer

Brad Paisley performs at an inaugural ball for Barack Obama in January 2013. A few months later, Paisley's song "Accidental Racist" would make the country singer the focus of ridicule and satire. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The Record

Think Politics Is Gone From Country Music? Listen Closer

Earlier this decade, it seemed like country's political streak had faded. But in the past five years, a handful of artists have displayed a renewed focus on morality that feels quietly revolutionary.

Hangin' Tuff: Eric Church Takes A Chance On 'The Outsiders'

Eric Church. John Peets/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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John Peets/Courtesy of the artist

Review

Music Reviews

Hangin' Tuff: Eric Church Takes A Chance On 'The Outsiders'

Fresh Air

Church uses the power he's accrued from hit records to make exactly the kind of album he wants.

Hangin' Tuff: Eric Church Takes A Chance On 'The Outsiders'

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First Listen: Eric Church, 'The Outsiders'

Eric Church's new album, The Outsiders, comes out Feb. 11. John Peets/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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John Peets/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Eric Church, 'The Outsiders'

As fun as his bold declarations can be, the country star's depth comes from his ruminative side; his decade-long slow rise has made him as flexible as he is determined. The greatest thing about The Outsiders is its range, both in sound and in the stories Church tells.

Eric Church, 'The Outsiders'

Audio for First Listens is no longer available once the album is released.

NPR Music's 50 Favorite Albums Of 2011

50 Favorites Of 2011: F-J

In 2011, Frank Ocean sang hooks for Jay-Z and Kanye West, wrote for Beyoncé, toured with Odd Future and still managed to release the smoothest R&B album we've heard in a while. We enjoyed opera's return to form with vibrant young tenor Joseph Calleja and fell in love with a rock opera from a band whose name we're not even allowed to say on NPR. The list of our 50 favorite records of 2011 continued with Frank Ocean, F----- Up and more artists from F to J.

NPR Music's 50 Favorite Albums Of 2011

50 Favorites Of 2011: B-E

This year was about changing perspectives. American string quartet Brooklyn Rider revealed a warmer Philip Glass and France's Ebène Quartet found a common thread from Mozart to Bruce Springsteen. Demdike Stare proved that dark techno can be breathtakingly beautiful and Conor Oberst reinvented himself as a rock star. The list of our 50 favorite records of 2011 continues with Bright Eyes, Brooklyn Rider and more artists from B to E.

'Judges' by Colin Stetson

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Country's New Guard Gets Back To Basics

Eric Church, whose Chief topped the Billboard 200 album chart last week and is joined in the top 10 this week by three other country albums. John Peets/Courtesy of Capitol Records hide caption

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John Peets/Courtesy of Capitol Records

The Record

Country's New Guard Gets Back To Basics

Chart-topping singers like Blake Shelton and Eric Church mix tradition with contemporary influences.

Country's New Guard Gets Back To Basics

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Eric Church On Mountain Stage

Eric Church performed on Mountain Stage. Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage hide caption

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Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage

Mountain Stage

Eric Church On Mountain Stage

North Carolina-born singer-songwriter Eric Church has quickly become one of the most popular young stars in modern country music. Church recently treated a Mountain Stage audience in Bristol, Tenn./Va., to a stripped-down acoustic performance of what is normally a loud, electric stage show.

Listen Now: Eric Church On Mountain Stage

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World Cafe

Eric Church: Traditional Country with Depth

XPN

On his debut album, Sinners Like Me, Church plants his feet in traditional-country territory, but his depth and ambition remain a constant. His thoughtful lyrics — delivered in a rough baritone voice — help make the record stick.

Eric Church: Traditional Country with Depth

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